“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
This blog will explore my inquiry into the affects of learning within a classroom environment when discriminatory language and derogatory name calling is ignored or brushed aside by a teacher or responsible adult.
I have found it common place to hear, and hear of, students within the school system use derogatory or discriminatory slurs to insult and shame individuals that are different from the societal norms that often dictate the life of a teenager (i.e. heterosexual, mainstream, popular…). Whether the target is verbally attacked based on sexuality, gender, religion, or appearance, it is occurring. Not only are these comments and slurs occurring but often they go completely unchecked and unchallenged by adults in what should be a safe space that encourages positive learning and inclusivity. This language remains prevalent in our schools and communities, it is a fact that we, as responsible adults, can not shy away from. It is my goal to expose the affect this type of behaviour has on both those directly impacted, as well as those students that observe that no repercussions exist when a perpetrator is not called out for their words or actions.
This is a complex and difficult topic to face. Many times the individuals that do not challenge the slurs of students are highly qualified in their respective fields of pedagogy. They are good citizens who would not stand by and watch discrimination in a public space, yet within their classroom they do not engage when the offence occurs. I am seeking to understand why.
During this process I will spend time exploring why it is that some adults choose not to engage with actions deemed offensive within the classroom while others do. I hope to discover whether the decision to remain neutral to the action is based on a lack of education in handling the situation effectively or if it is simply not found to be within the scope of their responsibility as an educator in the public school system.